11 wineries will be the toast of Skippack's Winetober Festival

By Mary Cantell, Journal Register News Service

Saturday, October 6, 2012

While autumn is a great time of year to take a long drive to a winery, what if the winery came to you?

Skippack Village — home to all that is homespun quaintness — will be hosting its third annual Winetober Fest on Saturday, Oct. 13, beginning at 1 p.m. Eleven wineries (180 varieties of wine) will be featured in various venues throughout the town.

“Our festival is pretty unique,” said Tara Shiffert, owner/creator of the festival as well as her own specialty gift shop, After 5 Gifts, located at 4038 Skippack Pike in the heart of Skippack Village that features gifts for the wine connoisseur.

In addition to the plentiful wine samplings, the festival will feature gourmet food demonstrations, tastings, live music of various genres and art exhibits, and a local animal rescue organization will be around to show off some adorable puppies (adoption is available).

All along the one-half mile that makes up the center of town, there will be a half-dozen or so venues that will feature the 11 wineries along with a guest musical performer at each location. The venues include Jakie’s Café, Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, Pigs & Gigs, the Grand Fromage, Wooden Duck, Bigg Dutts BBQ, La Villa Mexican Grille, and Dr. Kondus.

The musical songbooks for the day will contain everything from Sinatra to rock ’n’ roll.

“You’ll check in for your wrist band at After 5 Gifts,” said Chris Boyd, award-winning winemaker and owner of Cardinal Hollow Winery, who has two wine tasting locations at the festival this year. “That allows you to visit any of the venues around town and sample (and purchase) anything you want.”

Boyd is known for some unique wine concoctions and has 31 different varieties to his credit.

During the five hours of sipping wine and sampling gourmet cheese and treats like Japanese sushi, Jamaican jerk chicken, roasted pig, applewood smoked whole turkey and other delectables, Chef Christopher Tanner from Montgomery County Community College’s Culinary School will provide a firsthand look at his Choucroute Garni (a traditional Alsatian/German stew of pork, pork sausages, sauerkraut, spices and Gewurtztraminer). Handmade German-style pretzels and mustard will also be provided by the students of Montgomery County Community College’s Culinary Arts Institute.

With the great number of visitors descending on the village, keep in mind that parking will be at a premium.

“We have access to the entire Skippack Village area,” said Shiffert. “I don’t think there’s anywhere that we cannot park with the exception of someone’s house. We basically have carte blanche.”

(Holiday Inn at Kulpsville is extending a helping hand for anyone who wishes to be bused into the festival. It plans to provide free shuttle service to and from the five-hour event.)

“It’s best to leave the children at home,” Shiffert added. “But if you must bring them, there’s babysitting provided at Tiny Tennis.”

The 2012 Winetober Festival will take place in Skippack Village, Route 73, on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 1 to 6 p.m.Tickets cost $25 in advance; $30 day of the event. For more information, call 610-584-1155, Winetober.com or get instant tickets at http://winetoberfest.eventbrite.com.

Winetober Fest is donating $1 for each ticket sold to Philadelphia’s Ronald McDonald House.